The Case For: Keeping Your Superstar At The NBA Trade Deadline
There are a lot of things I would do if I were an NBA owner. Free parking. Cheap food. Finally learn what the phrase “jet-setter” means and become one. I would also fire my general manager every time they even suggested trading a superstar.
We’ve already seen one team— the Sacramento Kings—trade a superstar in DeMarcus Cousins—so far this season. And you know what? That was an awful trade! How are the Kings, who were lottery bound with Cousins, any closer to winning without him? If the Kings were actually managed well, there would be no need for them to jettison a great player.
The reason the Kings have been awful is not because of Cousins. I won’t discount the fact that he could be a hot head on and off the court. But his immense talent outweighs all of that. What I don’t understand is why anyone thinks it makes more sense to get rid of Cousins as opposed to the people responsible for drafting Georgios Papagiannis or constructing a roster with (when healthy) Rudy Gay as its second-best player.
So, let this be a warning to the Pacers and Bulls in advance of the trade deadline. Thinking of trading Paul George or Jimmy Butler? It’s probably not worth it.
The Pacers actually have some intriguing pieces between George and young center Myles Turner. They should—this is where things get really crazy—consider building around both of them instead of turning George into pennies on the dollar. I can’t…
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